Quality of the United States Soybean Crop: 2007

The American Soybean Association and the US Export Council recently published the results of their annual quality survey of the 2007 soybean crop. The purpose of the survey is to assist international customers with purchasing decisions and to compare the current crop compositional characteristics to previous years. This year, 1,865 soybean samples were analyzed and the results indicated that the average protein content was 0.9% higher and the average oil content was 0.5% lower compared to the 2006 soybean crop. Regional differences followed similar trends and were relatively similar to the 2006 crop.

Using the average compositional values for the state, one can calculate the estimated process value (EPV). EPV provides a relative measure of the value of products that could be produced from a bushel of soybeans containing those compositional traits. EPV also reflects environmental conditions favorable for producing soybeans with higher levels of protein and oil.



Estimated Process Value is the calculated value for the soybeans when SBM is selling for $320/ton, soy oil is $0.47 per pound and soybean hulls are valued at $115/ton.  www.stratsoy.uiuc.edu/

** Protein and Oil values expressed on a 13% moisture basis.
*** Sum represents sum of protein and oil concentration.

The 2007 crop was the 22nd year for the survey.  It is interesting that the average protein was 35.3±1.49 and oil was 18.7±0.89 for the crop years 1986-2007.  The 2007 protein and oil values are similar to the 22-year survey average.  During this period average soybean yields have increased by about 25 percent, meaning that farmers are increasing soybean yields without altering composition.

Seth L. Naeve and James H. Orf. 2007. Quality of the United States Soybean Crop: 2007. www.ussoyexports.org/